Radially clamping grips

ABSTRACT

A centrally apertured rotatable gripping device for radially clamping an object between a plurality of securely fastened flexible filaments while permitting axial movement therebetween, the device having an access groove to facilitate the lateral insertion of the object into the device.

United States Patent Inventors Claude Guignard Ferney-Voltaire. France: Jean Pellaton, Chatelaine; Maurice Poull. Meyrin, both of, Switzerland Appl. No. 882,947

Filed Dec. 8, 1969 Patented June 8, 1971 Assignee Electrospin Corporation Columbus, Ohio Priority Jan. 24, 1969 Switzerland 1043/69 RADIALLY CLAMPING GRIPS 5 Claims, 7 Drawing Figs.

U.S. C1 57/59, 57/77.33 Int. Cl DOlh 7/00, D0111 13/04 Field of Search 57/34, 51,

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Sui Campbel1.. Hegedusm. Klemm DeLangen 4 Poull et a1... Sylthe Primary ExaminerDona1d E. Watkins Attorneys-John R. Bronaugh, George R. Powers and Floyd S.

Levison ABSTRACT: A centrally apertured rotatable gripping device for radially clamping an object between a plurality of securely fastened flexible filaments while permitting axial movement therebetween, the device having an access groove to facilitate the lateral insertion of the object into the device.

PATENTED JUN 8197i SHEET 1 [1F 2 FIG. 4

FIG. I

FIG. 3

FIG. 2

PATENTEUJUN 8197! 3583.143

SHEET 2 UF 2 RADIALLY CLAMPING GRIPS BACKGROUND This invention relates to a gripping or clamping device in which an object such as textile yarn is held angularly about its periphery, but is allowed to move axially through the device. Such clamping devices are found in the so-called open end spinning art, in which devices, yarn is produced by various means for causing unattached fibers to adhere to and form a continuation of the yarn. The invention particularly relates to means for inserting the yarn into the device at the time of startup or for piecing-up in the event of yarn breakage.

In U.S. Pat. No. 3,372,537 a radially clamping grip of the above type is disclosed. In this patent a cylindrical body is shown having a clamping member which includes a plurality of flexible filaments disposed in a parallel bundlev The object to be gripped is inserted into the bundle so that each filament exerts a force radially upon the object. In order to place the object, such as yarn, into the clamping grip it was necessary to insert a tool of some sort into the bundle so that the filaments were forced apart to enlarge the opening. After the yarn had been drawn through, the tool was removed and the filaments were released into pressing contact with the yarn. The steps required for inserting a yarn into a clamping grip were time consuming and added undesirably to the cost of operation of large numbers ofthe devices. The present invention provides a clamping grip having the advantages of the flexible filaments, disclosed in the above patent, but permits thrcading-up by a simple operation requiring considerably less time than before.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a sliding grip which allows rapid insertion of a yarn or other filiform object to be radially gripped thereby, without using an inserting tool. The clamping grip of the invention has a rotatable body with a semimeridian groove extending from the periphery of the body to an axial hold in which is carried the bundle of flexible filaments. The groove is further provided with a special engagement surface as a simplified means for positioning the yarn prior to its being inserted into the clamping filaments.

It is the general object of this invention to devise a radially clamping grip for filiform objects in which the object may be inserted by a simple operation without using special tools.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention will be described in greater detail by reference to a specific embodiment thereof as shown in the accompanying figures ofdrawing wherein:

FIG. I is a view in front elevation showing the semimeridian groove,

FIGS. 2 and 3 are opposite end views indicated by arrows II-II and III-III respectively in FIG. I,

FIG. 4i is a side elevation indicated by arrow IV in FIG. 2,

FIGS. 5a and 5h illustrate, in two views at right angles to one another, the insertion of a length of yarn into the flexible filaments, and

FIG. 6 is a cross section taken on line VI-Vl in FIG. 2.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In FIG. I is shown a gripping device of the type described, having a cylindrical body I with a head 2 at one end and an axially extending through hole 3 terminating at the head end in an inlet funnel 4. The body I houses an expansible and contractable clamping member comprising a plurality of flexible filaments regularly arranged around the axis 5 of the hole 3, each of the filaments being arched so as to form a bow'net 6 which encompasses the funnel 4 (FIG. 6). The extension of each flexible filament from the bow-net 6 forms a bundle 7 of filaments coaxial with the hole 3. Between the filaments ofthe bundle 7 is an axial aperture for the passage of a yarn, held radially by the resilient forces of the flexible filaments, each urged toward the axis 5. Each flexible filament ofthe plurality is engaged by a separate one of a series of radially directed slots 8a to 8p (FIG. 3). At least a portion ofthe arched portion of each filament is positioned in a slot and will be guided thereby during radial displacement as shown in FIG. 6 where slots and 8i retain the arched portions of filaments 9a and 91' respectively.

To facilitate threading-up the device with a prepared yarn the body I is formed with a semimeridian groove 10 which provides lateral access to the bundle 7 of the clamping member. As shown in FIGS. I-4, this arrangement enables a filiform object such as a yarn 11 to be introduced from the side of the body 1 indicated by arrows 12. The yarn II may be readily inserted between the arched portions of the filaments 9e and 9h (FIGS. 5a and 5b) which are located on opposite sides of the groove 10. These arched portions are part of the bow-net 6 and therefore diverge more and more as they approach the top of the head 2, so that the yarn II can slide between these arched portions into the bundle 7 ofthe clamping member. Slight tension on the yarn 11 in the direction of the arrow 13 will part the filaments at the point Ila and allow the yarn to enter the bundle 7 and become fully trapped.

The groove 10, whose cross section has the general shape of a sector, is bounded by convex sides 14 and 15 which are symmetrical to one another in relation to the mean plane I6 of the groove and which connect tangentially with the periphery of the body I, so that the junction ridges I7 and 18 are rounded to the point of vanishing. This provides a smooth entry for the yarn and eliminates the possibility of the yarn catching on any edges of the slot.

In many instances the clamping grip of this invention is used for open end type spinning operations and must be supported for rotation about its axis 5. FIGS. I4 show in broken lines a hollow tubular casing l9 into which the body I is fitted to be rotated thereby. To insert an end of yarn into the clamping grip, the yarn must be passed through the casing I9 in some manner, for example, by blowing with an airjet. As an aid for this procedure, the body I has on either side of the groove 10 yarn engaging surfaces 20 which have the form ofa developed or ruled surface whose generatrices are perpendicular to the means plane 16 of the groove 10. The convex sides 14 and 15 of the groove are shaped so that they connect tangentially with the yarn-engaging surfaces 20, causing the junction ridges 21 and 22 to gradually fadeout (FIG. I).

The removal of material from the body I in forming the groove 10 unbalances the clamping grip relative to the axis 5. It is desirable to remove additional material on the side of the body opposite the groove such as at the flat surface 23 (FIGS. 2-3) in order to counterbalance the grip for high speed rotation.

It will be seen that the prime object of the invention has been achieved by providing a sliding, clamping grip which may be threaded-up very simply without the use of special tools and with practically no time loss. Such a grip is highly advantageous for use in spinning frames having large quantities ofspinning heads.

The embodiment of the invention in which I claim an exclusive property or privilege is defined as follows:

I. A gripping device for resiliently radially clamping the end of a yarn while allowing axial sliding motion of the yarn, said device comprising a rotatable body, an expansible and contractable clamping means contained within said body defining an aperture therethrough, said body having a semimeridian groove extending radially from the periphery of said body providing lateral access to said aperture, and yarn-engaging ruled surfaces in abutting relationship with said groove, the generatrices of said surfaces being perpendicular to the mean plane of said groove.

2. A gripping device as set forth in claim I wherein said groove is bounded by convex sides which are symmetrical to one another in relation to the means plane of said groove.

3. A gripping device as set forth in claim 2 wherein the outlines of said sides connect tangentially with the periphery of said body.

5. A gripping device as set forth in claim I wherein said body has a counterbalancing flat surface disposed in diametric opposition to said groove.

Dedication 3,583,143.0Zaude Gm'mmwd, Ferney-Voltaire, France, and Jean Pellaton, Chatelaine, and Maurice Poull, Meyl'in, Switzerland. RADIALLY CLAMPING GRIPS. Patent dated June 8, 1971. Dedication filed Mar. 23, 1977, by the assignee, Electrospz'n Uo'r'pm'ation. Hereby dedicates to the Public the entire term of said patent.

[Ofiicial Gazette May 10, 1.977.] 

1. A gripping device for resiliently radially clamping the end of a yarn while allowing axial sliding motion of the yarn, said device comprising a rotatable body, an expansible and contractable clamping means contained within said body defining an aperture therethrough, said body having a semimeridian groove extending radially from the periphery of said body providing lateral access to said aperture, and yarn-engaging ruled surfaces in abutting relationship with said groove, the generatrices of said surfaces being perpendicular to the mean plane of said groove.
 2. A gripping device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said groove is bounded by convex sides which are symmetrical to one another in relation to the means plane of said groove.
 3. A gripping device as set forth in claim 2 wherein the outlines of said sides connect tangentially with the periphery of said body.
 4. A gripping device as set forth in claim 2 wherein the outlines of said sides connect tangentially with said ruled surfaces.
 5. A gripping device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said body has a counterbalancing flat surface disposed in diametric opposition to said groove. 